China: LU student says he will deliver petition seeking release of his father to Embassy of China on May 9

Liberty University student Chongyu Xia announced Friday he will be delivering his petition for the release of his father to the Embassy of China in Washington, D.C., on May 9.

Chongyu Xia’s father, Xia Lin, was arrested Nov. 8, 2014, and was accused of “gambling and fraud,” according to the Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), a coalition of Chinese and international human rights non-governmental organizations dedicated to the promotion of human rights through peaceful efforts, according to its website.

Chongyu Xia said his father never had a gambling problem, and Xia Lin’s arrest is based on his career as a human rights lawyer.

“We’re pretty sure this is political persecution,” Chongyu Xia said in an April 25 interview.

On Friday, an official with the Chinese Embassy said no one was available to comment.

Locations of the 6,280 petition supporters vary from the Netherlands to Illinois to Mexico, according to the petition.